Closing the mental health gap among rural youth in the US By Cemile Kavountzis for Pfizer and Rural Minds Originally published in USA Today During her freshman year in college, Asheton was deeply affected by a classmate’s suicide. And even though she hadn’t known him personally, his story hit home. “The thing that stuck with me is that he was just like me,” she said. “He came from a small town. He lived on the same floor as me. He was a freshman, and he was taking the same classes I was, and he was struggling with them.” For Asheton, moving from Roxboro, North Carolina, to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill had been an exciting change from the quiet country roads of her childhood. Growing up, her closest friends lived miles down the road. “I went from being the smartest kid in the school to being one of the smart kids. And it was like I was pulled underwater,” she explained. “It was the most difficult change I’ve ever had to deal with.”
Asheton sits in her former high school, reflecting on growing up in rural America and coming to terms with understanding that she wasn’t the only one who needed some assistance for her mental health. Photo courtesy of USA Today
She confided in her mom, Debbie,
Starting the conversation
about the pressures. Debbie, who had
Young people in rural America can
experience working with kids facing
have the same hopes and dreams as
mental health issues, understood what
other teenagers, but they can also face
kids were up against. She knew the stress
unique challenges. They often lack the
of getting good grades and measuring
resources found in more populated
up online, and she had seen firsthand
areas, making it harder to get help — or
Asheton often felt overwhelmed
how resources and staff can be limited.
even know where to turn.
while scrolling through social media,
“My advice for parents if their children
“If you are from a place like Roxboro
seeing only “the best moments of other
are dealing with mental health issues is
that has such a tight community, it’s
people’s lives.” She felt like she was the
to support them,” said Debbie, stressing
not the physical isolation, but it’s more
only one struggling to keep up.
the importance of open communication.
the feeling of if I’m going through
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